Osteopathic Physician (D.O)

Duties and Responsibilities:

They use accepted methods of diagnosing and treating injuries and diseases. They practice in all branches of medicine and surgery like allopathic physicians however they are different by emphasizing the importance of the musculoskeletal system, holistic medicine, proper nutrition, and environmental factors in maintaining good health. They often use hands-on approach to medicine. They usually work at osteopathic hospitals or private practice, but now many allopathic hospitals are accepting osteopathic physicians as staff members.

Average Salary: $110,000

Education:

Students who would like to become an osteopathic physician should take the most challenging high school courses (including AP and IB courses) available in math, science, and English. After three or four years of college, physicians must attend medical school. Undergraduate requirements to enter medical school are one year of basic chemistry, one year of organic chemistry, one year of biology, and one year of physics. Some medical schools might also require course work in calculus, English, the humanities, or social science.  Medical school usually includes two years of additional study in both basic and clinical sciences and then is followed by a one year hospital internship. Afterwards physicians who want to specialize must undertake a three-year residency in their specialty.

I’m not really sure if I would like to become an osteopathic physician because I would like to work in a laboratory, but this interests me a bit, but I wouldn't want to do the surgery part.